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Badlands National ParkRanger leading a group of students on a field trip
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Badlands National Park
For Teachers
Rugged badlands formations accented by yellow flowers

Badlands National Park strives to provide quality curriculum-based educational material for teachers, parents, and students. Teachers may use the resources of Badlands National Park to explore topics in earth science, life science, and social studies. 

Badlands National Park contains one of the most complete Oligocene fossil assemblages in North America. The forces of deposition and erosion have shaped this beautiful and foreboding landscape. The park also contains one of the largest mixed-grass prairie ecosystems in North America. It has hosted several successful wildlife restoration programs for the black-footed ferret, bison, bighorn sheep and swift fox. There is much to discover in the Badlands.

Whether you plan to bring students to the park or simply want to integrate Badlands National Park into your classroom lessons, there are opportunities waiting for you. For additional assistance, please email the park's Education Specialist or call (605) 433-5361.

Painting of a mosasaur  

Did You Know?
During the Age of Dinosaurs, a warm, shallow sea covered the Great Plains, including what is now Badlands. Since dinosaurs were land creatures, no fossils of these animals have been found in the park. Giant marine lizards called mosasaurs swam in the ancient sea, along with sea turtles and fish.

Last Updated: April 23, 2009 at 13:35 EST